India hosting ministers' meet on Doha; Lamy to be present

New Delhi, July 26 (PTI) Happy with India's Commerce
Minister Anand Sharma's efforts to revive the stalled Doha
multilateral trade talks, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy has
confirmed his participation at the trade ministers' meeting
being hosted by India in September.

"Yes, Lamy has confirmed his participation at the
-ministerial meeting in the first week of September," a
Commerce Ministry official said.

The WTO chief is expected to play a referee's role in his
attempt to bridge the divide between the developing and
developed countries on market opening that each side is
willing to offer for reaching a deal.

"The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General has
expressed his satisfaction on the initiative of the Commerce
and Industry Minister to organise the ministerial meeting,"
the official said.

Trade ministers from around 30 key countries, including
from the G-20 (a grouping of developing nations), are likely
to be present at the meeting. It is also likely to have
representation from the developed world such as the US and the
European Union.

India, Brazil, South Africa and China are the members of
the G-20 representing interest of the developing countries.

While Sharma has been mobilising the world opinion for
"re-energising" the WTO talks, the opposition, including the
BJP and the CPI-M, are raising the pitch against what they
call "change in India's stance".

Both the parties raised the issue in Parliament last week
accusing the government of working under pressure from the
developed countries and changing the country's stand that it
would not compromise farmers' interest in the multilateral
agreement. PTI RK
AM
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